As New Jersey’s human residents start to get excited for the summer at the Jersey Shore, the end of beach season is quickly approaching for its canine residents.
The majority of New Jersey’s ocean beaches ban dogs during the spring and summer months, with some towns stopping beach access for dogs as early as March 1. Most allow dogs to return in the fall, typically some time between late September and mid-October.
Owners are always required to pick up any dog waste, regardless of the time of year. Unless otherwise noted, leashes should be 6 feet or shorter.
Rules for bay beaches frequently differ from ocean beaches, so make sure to double check bay beach rules before heading out with your pup.
Want to take your dog down the shore? See the rules for each town below.
Asbury Park
Between May 16 - Sept. 14: Dogs are welcome on the dog beach between 6 p.m. and 8:30 a.m. Use the Deal Lake Drive north or Fisherman’s Parking Lot entrance to reach the beach. Dogs are not allowed on the boardwalk at all.
Between Sept. 15 - May 15: Dogs are welcome at the dog beach at any time, but are still not allowed on other parts of the beach. The boardwalk is open to dogs during the off season.
Leash Rules: Not required for “properly supervised” dogs on the beach. Required at all times on the boardwalk.
Atlantic City
Memorial Day - Sept. 15: No dogs allowed on the beach or boardwalk.
Sept. 16 - Memorial Day: Dogs are allowed on the beaches.
Leash Rules: Always required.
Avalon
March 1 - Sept. 30: No dogs allowed on beach or boardwalk.
Oct. 1 - Feb. 28: Dogs are allowed on the beach, but not the boardwalk.
Leash Rules: Always required.
Avon-by-The-Sea
May 2 - Sept. 30: Dogs are not allowed on the beach or boardwalk.
Oct. 1 - May 1: Dogs are allowed on the beach, but are not allowed on the boardwalk.
Leash Rules: Always required.
Barnegat Light
April 15 - Sept. 30: Dogs are not allowed on the beach or near the inlet.
Oct. 1 - April 14: Dogs are allowed on the beach.
Leash Rules: Always required.
Bay Head
June 15 - Labor Day: Dogs are not allowed on the beach.
Tuesday after Labor Day - June 14: Dogs are allowed on the beaches.
Leash Rules: Always required.
Beach Haven
May 15 - Sept. 15: Dogs are not allowed on ocean beaches. A small dog beach is located on the bay at Taylor Avenue.
Sept. 16 - May 14: Dogs are allowed on all ocean beaches.
Leash Rules: Always required.
Belmar
May 1 - Sept. 30: Dogs are banned from the beach and boardwalk.
Oct. 1 - April 30: Dogs are allowed on the beach. They are not allowed on the boardwalk.
Leash Rules: Required at all times.
Bradley Beach
May 16 - Sept. 30: Dogs are not allowed on the beach or boardwalk.
Oct. 1 - May 15: Dogs are allowed on the beach, but are not allowed on the boardwalk unless crossing over to get to the beach.
Leash Rules: Unleashed dogs are allowed on the beach during the off season, but must be leashed going to and from the beach.
Brick
Year-round: Dogs are never allowed on the beaches in Brick, regardless of the time of year.
Brigantine
May 30 - Sept. 30: Dogs are allowed on the North End Beach. They are not allowed on the ocean beaches.
Oct. 1 - May 29: Dogs are allowed on all beaches.
Leash Rules: Leashes are always required, including on the North End Beach.
Cape May
April 1 - Oct. 30: Dogs are not allowed on the beach.
Nov. 1 - March 31: Dogs are allowed on the beach.
Leash Rules: Always required.
Cape May Point
March 15 - Oct. 31: Dogs are not allowed.
Nov. 1 - March 14: Dogs are allowed on the beach.
Leash Rules: Always required.
Corson’s Inlet State Park
April 1 - Sept. 15: No dogs allowed.
Sept. 16 - March 31: Dogs are allowed on the beach.
Leash Rules: Must be leashed at all times.
Deal
Labor Day - Friday before Memorial Day: Dogs are banned on the beach.
Monday after Labor Day - Memorial Day weekend: Dogs are allowed on the beaches.
Leash Rules: Leashes are required at all times.
Harvey Cedars
May 30 - Sept. 15: Dogs are not allowed on the beach.
Sept. 16 - May 29: Dogs allowed.
Leash Rules: Leashes are always required.
Island Beach State Park
All year: Dogs are not allowed on swimming beaches or inside buildings. They are allowed on all unguarded beaches.
Leash Rules: Must be leashed at all times.
Lavallette
Dogs are never allowed on the beach in Lavallette. They are allowed on the boardwalk outside of bathing season.
Leash Rules: Always required.
Loch Arbour
May 15 - Sept. 15: Dogs are not allowed on the beach.
Sept. 16 - May 14: Dogs are allowed on the beach.
Leash Rules: Leashes are always required.
Long Beach Township
May 16 - Sept. 30: Dogs are not allowed on the beach.
Oct. 1 - May 15: Dogs are allowed on the beaches, except Bayview Park.
Leash Rules: Always required.
Long Branch
May 1 - Sept. 30: Dogs are not allowed on the beach or boardwalk.
Oct. 1 - April 30: Dogs are allowed on the beach, they are not allowed on the boardwalk.
Leash Rules: Always required.
Longport
May 1 - Sept. 30: Dogs are allowed on the beach between 6:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.
Oct. 1 - April 30: Dogs are allowed on the beach at all times.
Leash Rules: Always required.
Manasquan
April 16 - Sept. 30: Dogs are not allowed on the beach or boardwalk.
Oct. 1 - April 15: Dogs are allowed on the beach, but not the boardwalk.
Leash Rules: Always required.
Fisherman’s Cove (Manasquan)
All year: Dogs are allowed on the east portion of the beach year-round. They must be leashed at all times.
Mantoloking
May 15 - Oct. 1: Dogs are allowed on the beach between sunrise and 10 a.m., and 6 p.m. and sunset. They are not allowed in the North Lagoon area at all.
Oct. 2 - May 14: Dogs are allowed on the beach at all hours.
Leash Rules: Leashes are required during the summer season. Dogs can be off-leash during the off season.
Monmouth Beach
March 15 - Oct. 1: Dogs are banned from any beach where endangered and threatened species have been identified, but are allowed on other beaches.
Saturday before Memorial Day - Labor Day: Dogs are not allowed on any beaches.
Oct. 2 - March 14: Dogs are allowed on the beach.
Leash Rules: Required at all times.
North Wildwood
All year: Dogs are allowed on the beaches between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m., and 5:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. There is also a dog park on the east side of the 24th Avenue beach open between 8 a.m. and dusk. A $10 permit is required. They are not allowed on the boardwalk.
Leash Rules: Always required, can be up to 8 feet in length.
Ocean City
May 1 - Sept. 30: Dogs are not allowed on the beach or boardwalk.
Oct. 1 - March 14: Dogs are allowed on the beach, but not the boardwalk.
March 15 - April 30: Dogs are allowed on the beach, except in the area from Longport Bridge to the jetty at Seaspray Road, and between 18th and 34th Streets. They are not allowed on the boardwalk.
Leash Rules: Always required.
Ocean Grove
May 2 - Sept. 30: Dogs are not allowed on the beach or the boardwalk.
Oct. 1 - May 1: Dogs are allowed on the beach, but not the boardwalk.
Leash Rules: Always required.
Ortley Beach
All year: Dogs are never allowed on the beaches.
Sandy Hook
March 16 - Sept. 14: Dogs are allowed on the bayside beaches, but banned on the ocean beaches.
Sept. 15 - March 15: Dogs are allowed on all beaches.
Leash Rules: Required at all times.
Sea Bright
March 15 - May 14: Dogs are allowed on the beach, except areas where there are endangered species. Off limits areas are North Beach between Ship Ahoy Beach Club and the public access stairway at Via Ripa, and South Beach between the Monmouth Beach/Sea Bright border and the Driftwood Beach Club.
May 15 - Sept. 15: Dogs are not allowed on any beaches.
Sept. 15 - March 14: Dogs are allowed on all beaches.
Leash Rules: Always required.
Sea Girt
May 15 - Sept. 15: Dogs are not allowed on the beach.
Sept. 16 - May 14: Dogs are allowed on the beach.
Leash Rules: Always required.
Sea Isle City
May 2 - Sept. 29: No dogs are allowed on the beach.
Sept. 30 - May 1: Dogs are allowed on all beaches.
Leash Rules: Required at all times.
Seaside Heights
All year: Dogs are banned from the ocean beaches and the boardwalk. They are allowed on the bay beach.
Seaside Park
All year: Dogs are never allowed on the beach or boardwalk.
Seven Presidents (Long Branch)
April 1 - Oct. 31: Dogs are not allowed in the park.
Nov. 1 - March 31: Dogs are allowed in the park, including on the beaches.
Leash Rules: Always required.
Ship Bottom
May 1 - Oct. 1: Dogs are not allowed on the beaches.
Oct. 2 - April 30: Dogs are allowed.
Leash Rules: Required at all times.
Spring Lake
May 15 - Sept. 30: Dogs are only allowed in the fenced-in area near Pitney Avenue between sunrise and 9 a.m. They are not allowed on the boardwalk.
Oct. 1 - May 14: Dogs are allowed on all beaches, but not the boardwalk.
Leash Rules: Dogs can be unleashed in the dog park area, but must be leashed everywhere else.
Stone Harbor
Friday before Memorial Day - Labor Day: Dogs are allowed on the beach between 7 p.m. and sunset.
Day after Labor Day - Thursday before Memorial Day: Allowed on the beach at all times.
Leash Rules: Always required.
Strathmere
March 15 - Sept. 15: Dogs are not allowed on the beach.
Sept. 16 - March 14: Dogs are allowed on the beach during this time.
Leash Rules: Always required.
Surf City
May 1 - Sept. 30: Dogs are not allowed.
Oct. 1 - April 30: Dogs are allowed on the beaches at all times.
Leash Rules: Required at all times.
Ventnor
May 15 - Sept. 30: Dogs are allowed on the areas of the beach washed by the high tide line between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Oct. 1 - May 14: Dogs are allowed on the area of the beach washed by the high tide lines at all times.
Leash Rules: Always required.
Wildwood
June 1 - Sept. 30: Dogs are only allowed at the dog friendly park at Glenwood Avenue. They are not allowed on the boardwalk.
Oct. 1 - May 30: Dogs are allowed on the beaches, but not the boardwalk.
Leash Rules: Leashes in the park are optional. They are required everywhere else.
Wildwood Crest
June 1 - Sept. 30: Dogs are not allowed on the beach or boardwalk.
Oct. 1 - May 30: Dogs are allowed on the beach at any time, but not the boardwalk.
Leash Rules: Always required.
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